Archive for July, 2009

Boeing today released photos of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight test airplane that has been painted in a special Boeing livery.

The fifth 787 flight test airplane (N787FT) is painted white with blue accents. The new livery incorporates visual and color elements from the distinctive blue-and-white Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery seen on the first 787 flight test airplane and other new commercial models. The simplified paint scheme will be applied to the three remaining unpainted flight test airplanes (Nos. 3, 4 and 6). Airplane No. 2 has been painted in the colors of launch customer ANA of Japan.

The modified livery, which saves time and expense compared to the full Boeing livery, will remain on the airplane until the flight test program is completed and it is refurbished and delivered to a customer.

The airplane’s two GEnx engines have been temporarily removed and returned to GE Aviation so that planned minor improvements can be made.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has orderd 24 F/A-18Fs. Delivery of the first one will be completed later this month, three months ahead of schedule. The remaining 23 Super Hornets will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.

Boeing today published a new photo, showing that they took a major step closer toward completing the assembly of the first 747-8 Freighter. Last week the forward and aft fuselage sections were loaded to join with the wing and center section.
The 747-8 Freighter is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared to its predecessor. That translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets.

This week Airbus announced deliveries of A320 Family aircraft to two Chinese airlines.

Shanghai Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus aircraftShanghai Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus aircraft, an A321 (B-6591), becoming a new operator of Airbus aircraft. The aircraft is the first of 10 A321s ordered by the Shanghai-based carrier in 2006 and 2007.

Powered by IAE V2533-A5 engines, the carrier’s first A321 is fitted in an all-new, comfortable two-class configuration with 178 seats (166 seats in Economy, 12 in Business Class). The aircraft will initially be deployed on domestic routes followed in the future by regional routes including Japan and Korea.

Shanghai Airlines was set up in 1985. Headquartered in Shanghai, the carrier now operates 68 aircraft on more than 170 domestic, regional and international passenger and freighter routes linking over 60 destinations across China and around the world. Shanghai Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance.

Juneyao Airlines takes delivery of its first purchased A320

Juneyao Airlines, a Shanghai-based privately-owned carrier, has taken delivery of its first purchased A320.

Juneyao Airlines currently operates 10 leased Airbus aircraft - two A319s and eight A320s - with 10 more A320s, via operating lease and purchase, due to join the fleet by the end of 2012.

The aircraft, the first of six ordered in June 2007, is powered by CFM56 engines and will accommodate 158 passengers in a two-class configuration, including eight first class seats. The airline plans to operate the A320 on routes between Shanghai and some of the most popular tourist destinations in China, as well as other destinations in Asia.

This week Boeing announced that Copa Airlines (Panama) placed an order for 13 Boeing 737-800 airplanes, plus options for an additional eight.

The order represents a mixture of option conversions and new orders and brings the number of Boeing Next-Generation 737s the airline has on order to 27.

The airplanes will be outfitted with Boeing’s signature Sky Interior. Drawing from years of research used to design the interior for the 787 Dreamliner, the 737 Boeing Sky Interior features new, 787-style sculpted sidewalls and window reveals that provide passengers with a greater connection to the flying experience.

Copa was the first carrier in the Americas to incorporate blended winglets on its 737s. All of its Next-Generation 737s use the distinctive curved wing ends, which improve fuel efficiency and lift while reducing engine wear and carbon dioxide emissions. Copa also was the first in the region to order Next-Generation 737s with the Vertical Situation Display system, which provides pilots with an easy-to-understand flight-path view.

Copa operates from Tocumen International Airport, a time-saving hub on long routes between the United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. The airline flies four of the world’s longest 737 routes from there - to Buenos Aires, Santiago, Sao Paulo and Los Angeles.

The damaged aircraft skin section was visually examined in the NTSB’s Materials Laboratory. The damage left a hole measuring approximately 17 inches by 8 inches. The skin in this area of the fuselage is 0.032 inches thick with an additional 0.032 inch thick layer bonded to the interior surface in selected areas.

According to NTSB the initial visual examination found the fractures in good condition and suitable for further analysis. No significant corrosion or obvious pre-existing mechanical damage was noted. A detailed metallurgical examination of the skin section and the fracture surfaces will be accomplished by the Safety Board in the coming days.

Southwest Airlines is now in the process of repairing the aircraft at Yeager Airport, Charleston, West Virginia.

On Monday evening, Southwest Airlines flight 2294, a Boeing 737-300, made an emergency landing at Charleston after a hole opened in the fuselage. The Flight was on its way from Nashville to Baltimore at 34,000 feet when it depressurized and the oxygen masks deployed.

Photo from outside - Looking at upper fuselage

Photo from inside - Cabin head covering being sucked out

It’s still not clear what caused the hole, about one foot square, in the upper fuselage near the vertical stabilizer. Southwest Airlines says it’s found no evidence of structural problems in the rest of its 200 Boeing 737-300 aircraft. Passengers said they heard a “loud pop” about 45 minutes into the flight. NTSB is investigating.

Yesterday, the NTSB has released its report on the crash of Steve Fossett on September 3 2007, near Mammoth Lakes.
The Board determined downdrafts, that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane, as probable cause of the crash. Contributing to the accident were high density altitude, and mountainous terrain.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the Bellanca 8KCAB-180 (N240R) piloted by Steve Fossett was on a northerly heading at impact, indicating that the pilot had executed a 180-degree turn after radar contact was lost. Ground scars and distribution of the heavily fragmented wreckage indicated that the airplane was traveling at a high speed when it impacted in a right wing low, near level pitch attitude. A postimpact fire consumed the fuselage, with the exception of its steel frame. The wings were fragmented into numerous pieces. The ELT was destroyed. Damage signatures on the propeller blades and the engine crankshaft indicated that the engine was operating at impact. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.

Visual meteorological conditions existed in the accident area at the time of the accident. Mean winds at 10,000 feet were from 220 degrees at 15 to 20 knots; some gusts of 25 to 30 knots may have occurred. Moderate turbulence and downdrafts of at least 400 feet per minute probably occurred at the time and in the area of the accident. The magnitude of the downdrafts likely exceeded the climb capability of the airplane, which, at a density altitude of 13,000 feet, was about 300 feet per minute.

Boeing 787 test plane ZA001 (N787BA) recently conducted its first taxi tests at Paine Field. This is the first time the Boeing 787 has moved on a runway under its own power. The test pilots were checking the steering and braking system.
The Rolls Royce Trent 1000 just sounds great! Reminds me of the amazing GE90